— What do you think makes Kolarbyn so special?

Andreas: “Kolarbyn is called ‘Sweden’s most primitive hotel’. It is a natural refuge for silence, wilderness and adventure in a beautiful forest setting just a couple of hours away from the capital Stockholm. I think the huts and the forest around them is something really unique. I don’t know any other place that has all of that. There is no electricity, only candles and a crackling fireplace that will guide you asleep. And after a silent night you slowly wake up to the birds and a refreshing swim in the lake. It is really fascinating.”

— Outside a hut at Kolarbyn

— You are new to Kolarbyn. Since when and why?

Andreas: “During the first year my wife and I were together, she is from the south near here, she took me to Kolarbyn and we stayed there for one night. We had a bottle of wine with us and some cheese and it was really, really magical. That was 6 years ago. When Marcus asked me to join, it was an easy decision for me. There is a lot of potential and I love the place and the nature here.”

— Dinner by the fire

— What is the history of Kolarbyn?

Andreas: “Kolarbyn was founded in the winter of 1996 as villagers from Skinnskatteberg decided to build a collection of traditional forest huts by the shore of lake Skärsjön. The idea was to create conditions for people interested in charcoal burning to practice their techniques in the way it had been practiced in the region for centuries. And then 6 or 7 years ago, Marcus reopened Kolarbyn with different huts.”

—

— What are the facilities at Kolarbyn?

Andreas: “We have a floating sauna on the lake, which is really amazing. We have no electricity or water, so we bring the water from a spring. We have a breakfast place where you can get bread and cook your eggs, but we don’t have a real kitchen. We just have two big fireplaces where you can prepare your own food if you want and every hut has its own fireplace. But that is the only thing we have. That is the concept of Kolarbyn. No fancy toilets or shower rooms and so on. We provide isolation mats, sheep skin rugs, candles and matches, firewood, waste separation bins for recycling, a canoe and wooden rowing boat, primitive kitchen facilities and access to a big hut with tables and chairs.”

— Kolarbyn log cabin

— What is the essence of Kolarbyn?

Andreas: “To live in nature. It is just a really, really magical feeling to wake up in the morning, start the fire and hear the birds singing. It is just to be in this place, and that’s enough for many people. They don’t want to have our tours, they just want to be here.”

— What animals are out here and what tours do you offer?

Andreas: “We have lots of birds, and we also have a map with the spots where we have wolfs. They are just a couple of hundred meters north of Kolarbyn. And Kolarbyn lies in the forest so you can also see moose. We have a variety of guided tours, package deals and special events throughout the season. Some of the tours include a wolf howling tour, a moose safari, a beaver watching tour, a lynx adventure or a wolf safari by horse.”

— Moose in the mist

— What do in your opinion is a must see or must do experience?

Andreas: “That is a hard question. You have to come and stay overnight I think, that is the main thing. I don’t know if you really need to do much. You can take a walk, you can go down to the sauna and take a bath in the lake, but there is nothing special you have to do. It is just to be here, to be in nature and relax. That is what it is all about.”

— Wolf

— When is the best time to come for a visit to Kolarbyn?

Andreas: “Actually I want to say all year round, but it depends. Right now, we are open from May to October. But next season, I want to open all year round, so even in winter. It really depends what you want to do. If you want to go out and have the snow under your feet you come in winter and if you want to go and bath in the lake, then obviously summer is the best time to go.”

—

— What should people bring?

Andreas: “We recommend you bring weather resistant clothing and footwear for hiking, warm clothing for cold nights, a camera, binoculars, a torch, a sleeping bag and a pillow, a bathing suit, towels, a water bottle and some snacks.”

— Lake Skärsjön

— Thank you, Andreas!

Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.

Sweden. The lingonberries. The girls with dragon tattoos. The nation where you accepted the Nobel for your work in external ballistics. And soon, the home of your next jaunt in a rustic floating sauna... Welcome to Kolarbyn, a lodge with 12 bare-bones huts scattered in the wilds of Sweden’s Bergslagen region, opening May 1 for the Nordic summer season and taking reservations now. Your retreat (or lesson in survival, depending) begins two hours outside of Stockholm near the shores of misty Lake Skärsjön, where your sparely appointed—but lushly camouflaged—forest abode awaits. It’s all here, really. Beds: two hard platforms, covered in sheepskin rugs. Heat source: a wood-burning fireplace. Light source: candles. Commode: a freestanding outhouse a few steps from the slatted front door. Your shower: a stream...

You may have stayed at a resort with all of the latest eco amenities before, but if you want your next vacation to be die-hard green, how about checking out a hotel with no electricity or showers? Known as ‘Sweden's most primitive hotel,’ Kolarbyn is a encampment of 12 grass and fern blanketed wooden huts that offer a true eco-experience. We have to warn you though - the resort (which has been known to be visited by brown bears and wolves) is not for the faint of heart... Located in a forest glade a few hours from Stockholm, the resort is perfect for anyone who wants an authentic rustic cabin experience. Each wooden hut features a green roof draped with grass, ferns and even wild strawberries and raspberries! While each cabin is equipped with a stove, there are no showers en suite so be ready to rough it. Luckily, there is a sauna located nearby for guests who simply must bathe...